What Causes Pain in the Lungs? 15 Potential Sources

Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***.

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“Pain in the lungs” is a phrase often used to describe the pain a person feels in their chest. You might feel as though pain is coming from your lungs. However, lung pain is not necessarily an accurate term, since lungs do not have pain receptors.

Because your lungs typically don’t process pain, it can be difficult to determine the origin of the pain and which organs are involved.

For instance, if you feel left lung pain, general chest pain is often the problem at hand.

Continue reading to learn what causes chest pain in the lung area, as well as when that pain in the lungs is really lung cancer chest pain.

What Causes Pain in the Lungs?

What causes chest pain in the lung area? To be clear, lung pain is not a condition—it is a symptom.

If you feel rib pain or chest pain, this may be related to any organ system within regions of the abdomen and chest. This includes the intestinal tract, heart, and, yes, the lungs.

The following are 15 conditions that may be the cause of your chest or lung pain. It is important to note that if you experience the symptoms associated with the conditions below and your chest or lung pain persists, be sure to visit your doctor.

On that note, let’s get started with what causes chest pain—or that pain in the lungs.

1. Pleurisy

When there is inflammation of the membrane, or pleura, that covers the inner side of your chest cavity and surrounding lung tissue, you may experience chest pain that worsens when you cough, sneeze, or inhale.

Coughing, lowered immunity, and inflammation from smoking are the likely cause of that pain in your chest or lung area.

4. Pulmonary Embolism

A pulmonary embolism is a very serious, potentially life-threatening condition that results from a blood clot in the lungs. This can damage part of the lung, since it reduces blood oxygen levels and restricts blood flow.

Chest pain in the lung area and shortness of breath are the most common symptoms of a pulmonary embolism. Other symptoms include fainting, low blood pressure, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, and coughing up blood.

5. Pneumothorax

Pneumothorax is when air becomes trapped next to a lung. Part of your lung will collapse, and this releases air into your chest cavity.

As a result, chest pain that worsens from breathing is a common symptom. Pneumothorax can also develop from complications of a lung disease or chest injury.

Similarly to Pneumothorax, bibasilar atelectasis can result in pain in the lungs. Bibasilar atelectasis by definition refers to a partial or complete collapse of a lung or both lungs. Although it is similar to pneumothorax, bibasilar atelectasis is caused by different conditions and situations. Pneumothorax can lead to bibasilar atelectasis.

6. Pneumonia

Lung infections like pneumonia can also cause various types of chest pain, such as pleurisy and deep chest aches. Chest pain is especially frequent with movement and heavy breathing.

Pneumonia often occurs suddenly, and can be either a viral or bacterial infection. Other symptoms of pneumonia include chills, fever, coughing, coughing up mucus, wheezing and shortness of breath, rapid breathing, and fatigue.

7. Pleural Effusion

Pleural effusion, or chest cavity fluid, occurs when there is fluid build-up in your chest wall and lungs. As a result, chest pain is a common symptom.

This condition is often a complication of severe problems like cancer, a lung infection, heart failure, or pancreatitis.

Other common symptoms include low oxygen levels, a fever, coughing, and difficulty breathing.

8. Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the arteries that carry blood to the lungs. The condition results when blood vessels in the lungs become blocked.

Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension are often mistaken for simply being out of shape, and include chest pain, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, achy joints, and getting tired easily.

13. Acid Reflux

The most common symptoms of GERD include chest pain in the lung area, a burning sensation in the throat or chest, a sour taste in the mouth, and wheezing and difficulty breathing.

14. Esophageal Spasm

Normal contractions of the esophagus will move food from the mouth to the stomach with a coordinated rhythm. Esophageal spasms are irregular and uncoordinated esophagus contractions.

Esophageal contraction disorders include uncoordinated muscle contractions, or spasms, and high-pressure contractions, which are both esophagus problems that cause chest or lung pain.

15. Hyperventilation

Hyperventilation is another frequent cause of chest pain in lungs. It is deep and rapid breathing, and is sometimes called over-breathing.
Hyperventilation can occur during panic attacks and anxiety episodes. Other symptoms of hyperventilation include headaches, dizziness, numbness and tingling, dry mouth, bloating, sleeping problems, and difficulty with focus and concentration.

Your Lung Pain Is Likely General Chest Pain

Whenever you experience persistent chest or lung pain, you should see your doctor immediately.

Contact your doctor if your lung pain comes on suddenly, you experience lightheadedness or shortness of breath, or the pain radiates down your arm and to your jaw or back.

Remember that if you feel left lung pain, general chest pain is likely the problem.

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Disclaimer: The information contained herein is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as a diagnosis, treatment, preventive, or cure for any disease, disorder, or abnormal physical state, nor should it be considered a substitute for medical care from your doctor. On any matter relating to your health or well-being—and prior to undertaking any health-related activity—consult an appropriate health professional. The opinions herein are exactly that, they are the opinions of the author. Doctors Health Press and its employees are not responsible for medically unsupervised activities that could be harmful to your health. Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***. All of the Doctors Health Press publications come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with your newsletter, you can simply cancel your subscription and receive a pro-rated refund on all undelivered issues. For our books and special reports, we will give you a full refund of your purchase price within 30 days of your order. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service.

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as a diagnosis, treatment, preventive, or cure for any disease, disorder, or abnormal physical state, nor should it be considered a substitute for medical care from your doctor. On any matter relating to your health or well-being—and prior to undertaking any health-related activity—consult an appropriate health professional. The opinions herein are exactly that, they are the opinions of the author. Doctors Health Press and its employees are not responsible for medically unsupervised activities that could be harmful to your health. Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***. All of the Doctors Health Press publications come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with your newsletter, you can simply cancel your subscription and receive a pro-rated refund on all undelivered issues. For our books and special reports, we will give you a full refund of your purchase price within 30 days of your order. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service.